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Page Updated December 11, 2010

Bounty Hunter has always upgraded their products over the years, often with little or no fanfare. Sometimes, the new version gets an updated name. Such was the case for the vintage Red Baron, Big Bud and other early Bounty Hunter detectors, as well as the Tracker, Quick Draw and Sharpshooter. New models, like the Teknetics T2, display their revision number on the screen.

For the Land Ranger and Time Ranger, the name was kept the same since they were first introduced in the 1990's. Although the Time Ranger has gone through at least 4 major releases since that time, it has kept the original name.

Fortunetely, it is relatively easy to determine which of the Time Ranger's 4 release versions you may have.

Version 1 has the Sentron Co-Relator mounted externally. When powered up it immediately performs an "air" measurement, perhaps this is the Co-Relator in action. Then it enters the programming mode, with the Target cursor blinking under Iron/Foil. A button press or two is needed to begin hunting at this point. Detecting is disabled until you choose an operating mode.

Version 2 manual mentions the Co-Relator is now mounted internally, otherwise it operates the same as Version 1.

Version 3 uses dual C-cell batteries instead of two 9-volt Alkalines, apparently this version was short-lived, around 2002 to 2003. Some users have said it detects a little better than earlier versions, but it is operated the same way as previous versions. A $30 upgrade was offered to owners of pervious machines.

Version 4 is very different in several keys areas. First, it powers up ready to hunt in Preset One. It is once again powered by two 9-volt batteries. The old Preset button is now called Program Select. A 4th preset has been added, called the Self-Tuning All-Metal mode. This is a Motion mode and is said to be the most sensitive mode. The All Metal Smart Trac No-Motion button is changed in that it does not automatically ground balance unless held down for two seconds.

The Blanker now operates as a "Zap Reject" based on the most recent target's ID. The previous Blanker ignored all shallow targets at the depth indicated on the meter in the lower right hand corner of the display. This meter is disabled in the newest version 4. The old Sniff command could either accept or reject targets, so it provided the Zap Reject feature, but required the added "Accept or Reject" keypress to activate it. Now the Sniff feature has only the accept option and is based on the most recent ID displayed. The old Blanker did not seem to function very well in my opinion, so these changes are primarily intended to simplify operation.

There may have been other undocumented internal changes over the years that aren't as simple to track. For example, my Version 2 release has "Revision 8" printed on the circuit board and the main chip is also labeled with its software version.

All in all, Version 4 seems a very worthwhile upgrade. It's more sensitive and easier to use. I bought my Version 2 Time Ranger in early 2000 and it is still my favorite machine, but I would like a chance to try the latest version someday! -Ed

Time Ranger v2 powerup process

Here's what my Time Ranger does when I power it up, hope this helps!

Hold the coil straight out from you at waist height, away from metal and press the power switch. The display shows AR, then a number relating to air balance, followed by IR, short for Iron, with the cursor blinking under Iron/Foil. This is the programmable disc mode as described in the manual.

At this point, you may press Disc Target or Preset and begin hunting right away in one of the Discrimination modes. You may also press Sniff and set that up as per the manual. Ground balancing is automatic and not controlled by the user. Or you may enter your custom accept/reject settings for each ID category.

To start out in All Metal Smart Trac, press power and perform the air balance as before. When IR appears, lower the coil all the way to the ground and then press the All Metal Smart Trac button. Try to choose an area free of metal to place the coil on the ground. The machine will begin to measure the ground conditions, and there will be a brief delay of a few seconds or longer. After the delay, a number relating to ground conditions will appear, then RY. If the delay seems too long, the ground may be highly mineralized or there may be some hidden metal under the ground or unnoticed nearby. You may choose to either wait it out or turn the machine off, pick another spot and ground balance again. Once Ry appears, you may begin hunting in All Metal mode.

You should be able to power up, air balance then ground balance and be hunting in about 10 seconds time if your ground is neutral. Mineralized ground will take a bit longer to get going on, but will still be a fairly quick process.

It's important to pick the "right" place to ground balance. It will determine the threshold and thus the performance of your machine. If the area you ground balanced on varies to a large degree from most of the soil in the area, or if it has hidden metal in it, you may be inadvertantly setting the detector up to ignore some signals. After ground balancing, I usually test the detector out on some metal, such as my shoelace eyelet, my keys or a coin, to verify it's working as I expect it to.

While hunting in All Metal mode, t's probably a good idea to periodically update your ground balance, just in case soil conditions changed and you were unaware of it, or if the ground monitor remains off-center for too long.

To switch between modes is easy. To go from All Metal to one of the Disc modes, simply press Disc Target, Preset or Sniff. To return to All Metal, have your coil on the ground and press All Metal Smart Trac, then wait for the number and RY as before.

The numbers displayed by Air balance at power up and by ground balancing may be compared to give you an idea of the mineralization in the area.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

-Ed

Time Ranger V2 Target ID Numbers

The numbers give a value to every target while in the discrimination modes of operation. Below is an example of target values that Lucky Dan has found and used to help him determine whether or not to dig a target. These numbers may vary slightly from one machine to the next, but they show how different metals will show different numeric values on the screen. Notice also that some values overlap.

*COIN NUMERIC VALUE RANGE

*Nickel 32-41

*$5 Gold Piece 51-56

*Ring Pull-Tab 35-60

*Beavertail Pull-tab 62-90

*Zinc Penny 99-04

*Wheat Cent 115-145

*Clad Dime 141-149

*Mercury Dime 150-163

*Clad Quarter 183-197

*Silver Quarter 190-202

*Clad Dollar 187-197

*Franklin Half 224-238

*Silver Dollar 239-255

*Rusty Hinge 239-299

From a Newbie to a Newbie

by Ed Gerken, Sep., 2001

My wife, Sandy, and I bought a pair of Time Rangers this summer, and find they do tell us what is going on with most targets.

Our machines can get confused at times, mostly by cigarette foil bits, long-buried rusty iron cans (that have a "halo" of rust in the soils around them) and spent .22 shells. 22's read like nickels, the rusty iron and foil more often read more like a quarter, half-dollar or dollar.

When I got the Time Ranger, I dug nearly all signals after a thorough scan to see what the detector thought they were. Then after digging, I let reality be the judge! Can't say for sure about your particular model of Bounty Hunter, but the technology is probably similar; anyway our models were correct on most of the id's. If it said it was junk or iron, it almost always was. If the target wouldn't settle down to a specific id, it was also usually junk. Junky signal, junk target.

I would dig solid, repeatable targets that gave the same id when scanned in one direction and then another. A small "test" gold nugget gave a very weak signal that varied somewhat, but was noticiable because of it's "soft" sound. Also, a small ring I found this summer did alternate a bit in the id, but not as radically as most junk targets. It was a different signal than most targets, so I dug it, and was sure glad I did!

I switch modes pretty often, depending on the search area and number of signals. Few signals, I go to all-metal and once I locate a target, I might change to discriminate to help determine the target id. All metal mode pinpoints better as well. In a trashy area, I use discriminate mode with discrimination turned down low or off and increase it only enough to silence the most common trash at the site.

If you are digging nothing but nails or other trash target at a location, toss a typical "dud" on the ground and pass the coil over it, changing the settings until the trash item just barely vanishes from the signal. Now double check with a nickle, dime and quarter or test nugget to make sure you are still picking out the "good stuff".

I make sure I carry some coins and other items with me while hunting to provide a reliable test target, if I feel a need to check the machine's operation. I just scatter one or several coins in an area that is cleared of pre-existing signals and pass the coil over the spot. I have also brought along and scattered poptops, nails, bolts, tabs and screwcaps about the test area next to my coins to see if the detector could separate the individual signals. It quickly gave me a lot of experience with the machine in my own backyard and at nearby locations, and one time it helped me discover a loose coil connector while in the field.

Reducing sensitivity can help stop false signals, as can scanning from a greater distance above the surface, it also reduces the depth you will achieve, but sometimes this is the only way to hunt highly mineralized areas. A smaller searchcoil can help as well, as it is "seeing" a smaller portion of the troublesome soils, minerals, trash, etc., but again you will lose some depth.

I own a second pinpointing detector to fine-locate my signal and don't often need to rescan once a target is discovered, so I usually turn off the Bounty Hunter to help preserve the batteries.

Hope this long letter has a few hints you and perhaps other "newbies" can use.

Happy Hunting!

Ed Gerken

BOUNTY HUNTER TIME RANGER REVIEW

version 1 with Sentron Co-Relator

by Mickey Maguire

Bounty Hunter's Time Ranger is dollar-for-dollar the most technologically advanced metal detector on the market. What's more, Bounty Hunter throws in features that make it a stand-out, that is, there are bells and whistles here that no other metal detector matches.

Most obvious of these exclusive features is Time Ranger's Sentron Co-Relator which serves two very important functions. First, it detects electrical interference and cancels it using state-of-the-art electronics found only in this detector. No other manufacturer has attempted such a circuit design. Second, the Co-Relator antenna sports a red LED that alerts the detectorist to ground mineralization conditions that dip below negative and are in need of adjustment to compensate for them.

There are so many features on Time Ranger that you'll need a good season's worth of detecting to really learn it thoroughly. The LCD display features target ID in much the same configuration found on Bounty Hunter's Land Star, but, there is a new twist... the addition of an LCD target ID alpha-numeric coding system. Not only will it identify your present operating mode, when a target is located, the numeric value can identify probable targets.

1 to 7 foil

8 to 37 nickels

38 to 75 pull-tab

76 to 125 zink pennies and screw caps

126 to 165 copper pennies, dimes

166 to 213 quarters

214 to 250 half-dollars

251 to 299 silver dollars

In addition to the target numerical ID system, Time Ranger also uses Bounty Hunter's patented 3-tone target ID system. Between the audio target ID, the LCD ID system, and TR's numeric ID system, you can get a clearer mental image of your target before you attempt to dig. In previous Bounty Hunter products, 3-tone target ID has proven itself to be an invaluable tool for separating good targets from junk.

Another important feature of Time Ranger is the "blanker." With it, you can block all targets between 4 inches and the ground's surface (or 2 inches if you prefer). For this feature alone, I can say that every coin-shooter should take a serious look at this machine. The ability to block signals from targets within two inches of the surface will filter-out unwanted signals from little foil bits found on most beaches and will also block most pulltabs. Even if you choose not to use the "blanker" to block shallow targets automatically, the LCD control panel includes a depth meter that will help you make those all-important judgment calls when you are deciding whether or not to dig a target.

If you know the area you are detecting well enough, and you know that over 100 years ago the area was a fairgrounds, while in the last 5 years it's been a party hang-out, then having the ability to block anything within two inches of the surface is a benefit that no other detector I know can beat. A sensitivity control in the left center of the control panel will read from 2 to 8 in discrimination-mode and 5 in all-metal. In all-metal "smart trac" mode, the adjustment actually moves the audio threshold. Visually, it resets to 5 after every adjustment. On the lower left corner is a battery meter. Bounty Hunter recommends replacement of batteries when the meter reads "L" (for low). The readings are "G" for good, "F" for fair, "L," and "R" for replace.

For the most reliable and stable operation, I'd follow BH's recommendation. It has been my experience that BH's advice is always good. Bottom center of the control panel is the ground monitor. The pointer will be on "0" in good soil conditions. If it moves left or right and doesn't go to center in a short time, simply pushing "all-metal smart trac" on the touchpad to reset the ground circuitry. Bounty Hunter's advice is to make sure you are not over a target when you make this adjustment.

Another great feature of the Time Ranger is the ability to program its target discrimination mode to accept or reject a broad range of targets. This targeting mode includes "preset" modes for easy operation, or, you can program the detector to accept or reject any range of metals or targets using the LCD display on the top of the control screen. You can click through the process sequentially starting from iron targets through the range of probable coin IDs.

The Time Ranger's manual fully explains the process. I'd recommend reading it completely before using this feature. Otherwise, you might miss a lot of excellent finds while you are learning how to adjust these settings. Another excellent feature of Time Ranger is "sniff" mode. You can "sniff" a target to adjust the detector to reject or accept targets of a given type. This can come in handy when you want to block pulltabs, for example.

There is a tendency for all detectorists to run to their favorite hunting area with new detector in hand and start swinging.

Time Ranger has many excellent features, many unavailable on units made by competitors. Before detecting with this machine, I really do strongly urge you to read the manual. Try the air test and see how you can adjust the unit to accept and block various targets. Get a feel for the LCD alpha-numeric readings and the letter codes BH uses to identify the detector's modes. The Time Ranger is the best value in high-end metal detectors.

There is a steep learning curve on this machine. To prevent frustration, read the manual and make sure you understand how to set the modes of operation before venturing into the field. I'd also recommend taking along the manual, just in case. One last note, make sure you have extra batteries with you. This detector has good battery life, but, it won't last as long as Land Star and other BH units simply because there are so many meters on the LCD screen and this does shorten battery life. Follow BH's advice and replace the batteries when the meter reads "L" to get the most stability in the widest range of soil conditions.

Time Ranger is a real winner. I give a big thumbs-up to Bounty Hunter for another excellent machine and recommend this detector to all experienced metal detectorists. You won't find another detector with as many features anywhere near TR's list price.  

Announcing the May, 2002 Time Ranger upgrade:

Dear Bounty Hunter visitor:

First Texas Products LP (Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors) is constantly striving to improve our products to meet the demands of our customers. We have made some changes to our Land Ranger and Time Ranger models that will be shipping this month. Currently, these two models operate using two 9-volt batteries. Effective immediately, we will be producing the Land Ranger and the Time Ranger to operate using two C-cell batteries. This product improvement will add about twice as much battery life to the machine and the C-cell batteries are about half the cost of the 9-volt batteries. If you currently have a Land Ranger or Time Ranger detector and you would like to take advantage of this product improvement, an upgrade is available to you at a minimal cost of $30. Please contact us if you are interested. If you have questions or need further information about this change, you may email us or call 1-800-444-5994.

Thank you for your interest in Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors.

Time Ranger Tips and Info

Digitally Powered

The Time Ranger is designed for every metal detecting application conceivable at a professional level. All features and functions are highly visible with no hidden programming. The touchpads keep all modes of operation at quick and easy access while the LCD emits a constant reference source maximizing every possibility for finding treasure.

Now you can recover more relics and valuables from the past then ever before. The Time Ranger's Powerful Circuitry and smooth operation combine to deliver Absolute Performance. Includes an innovative feature called the Sentron Co-Relator, located on the top of the control panel, which senses outside electrical interference and automatically cancels it out. Includes a red LED light that alerts you whenever ground conditions require updating. Another useful feature to coin-shooters is the Numerical Value Readout on the LCD Panel that allows the user to determine the difference between clad and silver coins.

LCD Target ID

LCD Depth Readout

Deep Target Indicator

Microprocessor Circuitry

Ground Monitor

4-Level Iron Discrimination

Touchpad Selection

Sensitivity Control

Smart Trac® Ground Control

Numbered Target Values

Sniff Mode

Blanker System

Low Battery Indicator

3-Tone Target Audio

1/4-Inch Headphone Jack

Time Ranger Faceplate Features

Target ID Readout: Arrows indicate which type of metal or coin denomination is being detected

Depth Readout: Probable depth of coin-sized objects is indicated in inches 0-10

Low Battery Indicator: Located at the center of the faceplate/comes on when batteries are low

Headphone Jack: Can be either used with headphones or without (requires 1/4" plug)

Fully Programmable Touchpad Selection: Targets can be individually rejected or accepted

Blanker System: Will eliminate the surface while still detecting deeper more valuable objects

Auto Ground Balance: Automatically tracks the ground conditions you're hunting in for a constant optimal performance level

All Metal Smart Trac: Touchpad selection for keeping the unit at peak performance in the All Metals Mode

Target Preset: Allows you to operate the unit in a preselected automatic discrimination

Sniff Mode: Can be used in specialized applications when rejection or acceptance of one particular object is desired

Sensitivity (Low & High): Touchpad selection for level of sensitivity (operates in both Discrimination and All Metal Modes)

Audio Target Identification

The 3-Tone Audio Discrimination categorizes metal targets under 3 audio output possibilities.

THREE-TONE DISCRIMINATION classifies detected metal objects into the above 3 categories. Has 4-Level Iron Discrimination for complete programmability to eliminate small iron while still detecting larger iron objects. Can be programmed so that Iron and Bottle Caps no longer are detected while nickel and most small gold items will emit a low tone.

Comes with 8" Open-Face Waterproof Searchcoil.

Bounty Hunter® Technical Support

This page contains technical information about the

Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Metal Detector.

TIME RANGER INFORMATION

(Units in inches)

Time Ranger

(Max) Height: 5 «

Width: 6

Length: 5 1/4

8" coil

Height: «

Diameter: 8 3/8

Length: 50 (cord)

Shaft (adjustable)

(Max) Height: 6 1/4

Width: 4 «

Length: 45-51

*Battery Life

The Time Ranger uses two 9-Volt batteries Maximum battery life expectancy is 20

hours, with average-use life expectancy falling in ~16 hrs.

*Target Depth

Though the LCD displays a maximum depth of 10 (inches), depending on target size, soil

conditions, etc. much deeper targets may be detected. Large coins may be detected at

depths of 14 inches. The 'Deep Target' indicator is active for deep targets.

*Weight

Rugged plastic case and design makes the 3.5# Time Ranger easy for longtime use.

TIME RANGER DISCRIMINATION TIPS

The following are some suggestions for using the Time Ranger in Discriminate mode. In

Discriminate mode the unit responds to a target with an audible tone based on the type of target.

Some of the following settings may enhance discrimination by reducing the sensitivity of the

unit.

Mineralized/trashy ground hits can be reduced by programming out different levels of iron. Iron

levels Ir1 through Ir4 reduce the size of Iron sensitivity progressively. Ir1 will eliminate small

iron content. Ir2 will blank out small pieces of iron. Ir3 will ignore larger iron hits. And Ir4 will

blank out all iron signal.

The operator must keep in mind that apparent size is reduced by depth. A large iron object a foot

down may have the same signal as a small piece of iron only an inch down. Also, programming

out iron is not a complete solution to iron hits, as some iron can cause a fringe hit in another

'window' in the Time Ranger. For example, a rusted nail may sometimes be detected in the

silver dollar range.

Also, the operator can use the Sniff mode to mask certain types of objects that appear frequently.

If, for example, a certain type of pull tab is found frequently in the area, then the sniff mode can

be set to Reject that type of pull tab. This creates a small 'window' of rejection around that type

of object. Some indirect sweeps over that target may cause a false ID, but detection of this object

is greatly reduced using Sniff Reject.

And the blank mode is useful for ignoring everything on the surface. This can be selected at 2 or

4 inches and is often useful in high trash areas. The operator can, at any time, lift the coil slightly

higher to investigate a suspect good target areas.

With the Time Ranger's extended ranges of detection, combined with its built in sensitivity, it is

often a good practice to reduce the range of discrimination where 'false hits' occur. One 'catch-

all' practice that can limit the number of hits is to Reject Ir2 and $1. This blanks many of the

noise-causing signals.

TIME RANGER GROUND-BALANCE TIPS

The following are some suggested methods for ground balancing the Time Ranger.

The Ground Monitor will indicate the status of the ground balance, as some ground

conditions may require special ground balancing.

After first turning on the machine, and holding it in the air (until after "Ar" is dis-

played), the unit can be placed on the ground for ground balancing by pressing the

All Metal/Smart Trac button. After the unit displays "Ry, the unit should be

ground balanced.

Ground balance can be verified by lifting the coil in the air and checking the

Ground Monitor. If the ground monitor moves more than 1 count from the center

(zero) position then another ground balance may be necessary.

If another ground balance is necessary, then the Time Ranger coil may be held in

the air again, the All/Metal Smart Trac button pressed and returned to the ground

for another ground balance. The Ground Monitor can be used to check the progress

of the ground balance.

If the Ground Monitor moves ñ2 or more, then soil conditions are considered

extreme. This can be highly mineralized soil, salt water, black sand, or other ground

condition. The Time Ranger can compensate for this by using an alternative method

of ground balancing.

Alternative Ground Balancing Techniques

I.

For most conditions which prevent the Time Ranger from ground balancing

correctly, the machine may be ground balanced by not placing the coil directly on

the ground (as the user would normally be swinging the coil ~1inch over the

ground). The normal ground balance procedure is followed with the exception of

keeping the coil above the ground when balancing, then checking ground monitor

for error.

II.

For "hot" soils, the Time Ranger may readjust itself if the ground balance system is

not overdriven by extreme conditions. An alternative ground balance technique is

as follows;

1. Turn unit on.

2. Hold coil in air until after "Ar" is displayed.

3. Hold coil above ground level (3-6 inches depending on soil).

4. Press the All/Metal Smart Trac button and wait for "Ry"on display.

5. Pull coil up into air and check Ground Monitor. The Ground

Monitor should stay within ñ1 from the center (0) on display.

6. Repeat steps 2 thru 5 while decreasing distance from coil to ground

while ground balancing. After a successive rebalances Time

Ranger should be adjusted to the extreme soil condition.

1998 Time Ranger Version 2 Owner's Manual

NOTE: Images are excluded due to the memory requirements; therefore, there will be references to illustrations that do not exist in this text only document. All illustrations can be found in the original manual published by First TX Mfg. Co. and available through the factory: (915) 855-4206.

Copyright ®1998 by Bounty Hunter Corp./First TX Mfg. Co.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this Website and content, or parts thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Published by Bounty Hunter Corp./First TX Mfg. Co.

Bounty Hunter Time Ranger® Metal Detector

OWNER'S MANUAL

KEY POINTS  

This Detector has two distinct systems in one:

1. No-Motion ALL METAL Mode with SMART TRAC: In this setting, detected targets will cause the detector to sound off for as long as the target is under the searchcoil--motion is not required to detect a target. When operating in this Mode, it is required to push the SMART TRAC touchpad to allow the unit to measure the ground conditions for peak performance (see page 8 for important procedures). All targets will be detected with a continuous medium tone. Sensitivity should be decreased or increased if necessary to obtain a low threshold sound from the speaker. After adjustment, SENSITIVITY reading will stay on "5".

2. Motion DISC TARGET Mode: Operates with Three Tone Audio Target Identification, SENSITIVITY touchpads and Automatic Ground Balance--the SMART TRAC touchpad does not apply in this mode of operation. In this MODE three levels of PRESET can be selected by pushing the PRESET touchpad up to three times. Motion is now required to make a detection--items will be tuned out if coil is not in motion (see page 13 for PRESET details). SENSITIVITY setting, "2" through "8", will read as adjusted.

NOTE: Do not attempt to test unit by placing coin or metal objects onto a floor, because most floors contain metal which will interfere with the detector's operation.

ASSEMBLY..........................................3

S-Rod Assembly.....................................3

Mounting the Coil....................................3

INSTALLING BATTERIES.......................4

Resetting the Detector................................5

Sentron Co-Relator...................................5

USING HEADPHONES............................6

Listening Safely.......................................6

Traffic Safety..........................................6

READING THE DISPLAY..........................7

LCD Probable Target Identification.................7

Sensitivity..............................................9

Depth Indication.......................................9

Battery Level Indicator..............................10

Ground Monitor......................................10

Blanker................................................10

Target Info............................................11

BASIC OPERATION................................12

Turning on The Detector.............................12

Disc Target Mode.....................................12

Preset w/3 Levels.....................................14

Smart Trac All Metal Mode..........................15

Sensitivity Adjustment for Smart Trac All Metal..16

ALL METAL SMART TRACTM SYSTEM........18

SNIFFTM MODE......................................20

AUDIO TARGET IDENTIFICATION.............22

TESTING YOUR DETECTOR.....................24

IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES....................26

Pinpointing.............................................26

Coil Movement........................................27

METAL DETECTING APPLICATIONS..........30

Coinshooting..........................................30

Relic Hunting..........................................32

Jewelry Hunting.......................................36

Gold Prospecting......................................38

Cache Hunting.........................................40

TROUBLESHOOTING .............................42

CARE & FEEDING..................................43

TREASURE HUNTER'S CODE OF ETHICS...BACK COVER

WARRANTY.........................................BACK COVER

Assembling your Time Ranger Metal Detector is easy and requires no special tools. Just follow these steps:

1. Using the supplied bolt and knurled knob, attach the searchcoil to the lower stem. Attach the control panel with two knurled bolts (provided) to the upper stem.

2. Press the button on the upper end of the lower stem and slide the lower stem into the upper stem. Adjust the stem to a length that lets you maintain a comfortable upright posture, with your arm relaxed at your side and the searchcoil level to the ground and about 1/2 to 2 inches above the ground.

3. Wind the searchcoil cable around the stem. Leave enough slack in the cable to let you adjust the coil when you are hunting on uneven ground. Then tighten the knob at the end of the searchcoil.

Note: To adjust the coil, simply loosen the knob.

4. Insert the coil's plug into the matching connector on the control housing. Be sure the holes and pins line up correctly.

Cautions:

· Do not force the plug or you might damage it.

· To disconnect the cable, pull out the plug. Do not pull on the cable.

IMPORTANT: Your Time Ranger metal detector requires two 9-volt ALKALINE batteries.

Caution: Only use fresh batteries of the required size and type. Batteries must be Alkaline-type such as Energizer No. 522.

Follow these steps to install the batteries.

1. Carefully remove battery compartment door by pressing release clip at right side of door.

2. Snap one battery onto each of the terminals, and place the batteries inside the compartment.

3. Replace the compartment door by carefully inserting opposite side of clip first. Then press carefully down on clip side until battery door snaps in place.

Notes:

Upon connecting the batteries, and turning the unit "ON", the battery indicator along with all other indicators will light briefly so you know the detector is working properly, and the batteries are good. Turn unit "Off" when not being used.

Whenever the low battery dial arrow points to "R" (Replace), replace the batteries.

Many metal detector problems are caused by weak, dead, or improperly connected batteries. If the detector does not turn on, has weak volume, will not tune properly, has erratic operation, or drifts, replace the batteries.

You can extend battery life by using headphones. A headphone jack is provided and can be used with any 1/4-inch stereo-type headset.

Remove the batteries if you do not plan to use the detector for a week or more.

RESETTING THE DETECTOR

The detector might "lock up" and sound a continuous tone if you have low battery voltage or are testing the detector with the searchcoil near a large metal object.

Check and replace the batteries if necessary.

Move to a different testing location.

Reset the detector by turning it off and on repetitively.

SENTRON CO-RELATOR ANTENNA

This unique feature of the Time Ranger monitors outside interference levels, allowing the detector circuit to make automatic adjustments. It also performs an important function related to the Smart Trac and Ground Monitoring Systems. When in operation, the antenna should be extended. When stored, or not in use, the antenna should be retracted. The Red LED Light at the rear of the Sentron will alert you whenever the Ground Monitor goes negative.

Using headphones (not supplied) with your metal detector makes it easier to identify subtle changes in the threshold levels for better detection results, and also reduces drain on the batteries.

The Time Ranger Metal Detector has a stereo headphone jack.

To connect headphones, insert the headphones'

1/4-inch plug into the headphone jack on the underside of the control panel (see illustration).Listening Safely

To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use headphones. Purchase stereo headphones that have right and left side volume controls.

Set the headphone volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening, adjust each volume control to a comfortable level.

Do not listen at high volume levels. Extended high-volume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Once you set the volume controls, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause noticeable discomfort might still damage your hearing.

Traffic Safety

Do not wear headphones while operating your detector in traffic areas. This can create a traffic hazard and is illegal in some areas.

Even though some headphones are designed to let you hear some outside sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still present a traffic hazard.

The LCD display is located at the center of the control housing and emits a constant reference in all aspects of the detector's operation. Think of the LCD panel as your window of view as you're using your Time Ranger. It's designed to be viewed as you're sweeping your coil. In combination with the 3-Tone Audio Target Identification, it's designed to give you useful information for determining what type of metal is being targeted. Target ID's are probable; there will always be a law of average to contend with when detecting. With practice in learning how your Time Ranger reacts to different metal, you will minimize the trash-to-treasure ratio encountered in the field. Before you start, you need to be familiar with the LCD abbreviations that may be displayed under the word "TARGET".

LCD PROBABLE TARGET IDENTIFICATION

The LCD TARGET READOUT will display the probable target. Many other types of metal are in the same detection range. It will usually lock on when a target has been detected and not lock on if the unit "falses" or an object is borderline discriminated. The target ID displays various coins and metal objects, and a range from GOLD to SILVER. When the detector senses a target, an arrow will indicate the probable target being detected. Until another object is detected, the arrow will remain under the most recent target detected. Note: When the arrow points to a coin, the detector could be sensing either a coin or another type of metal such as jewelry, tokens, medals, or even junk metal that happens to fall into the same range as the indicated item.

ITEM RANGE

FOIL............................1 to 7

5¢................................8 to 37

PULL-TAB....................38 to 75

Z-1¢/S-CAP...................76 to 125

1¢/10¢..........................126 to 165

25¢..............................166 to 213

50¢..............................214 to 250

$1 + Large Silver..............251 to 299

READING THE DISPLAY

GOLD/SILVER range: Indicated on the top of the readout. The gold spectrum is to the left of the LCD Display and the silver spectrum is to the right. Other types of metal fall under both spectrums such as iron, foil, lead, nickel and aluminum under the gold spectrum and copper/brass under the silver spectrum.

IRON/FOIL: Indicates that the target is probably iron or foil. The Time Ranger has 4 levels of iron discrimination from small to large and 1 level of foil discrimination. Some rusted oxidized iron may occasionally register in the silver range.

5¢: Indicates that the target is possibly a 5¢ nickel/coin. Many gold rings register as 5¢. There is a percentage of pull-tabs and foil that will still be detected as 5¢. For instance, some pull-tabs that are broken that resemble the shape of a "beaver tail" will detect in this range.

PULL TAB: Indicates that the target is probably a pull-tab. Some small and medium-size gold may also read as pull-tab.

Z-1¢/S-CAP: Indicates that the target probably is a zinc penny or a screw cap. Will usually emit a medium tone when targeted. Other targets, such as large gold, may also fall into this category.

DEEP TARGET: Indicates that the target is out of detection range to be accurately identified. Depending on where you adjust your SENSITIVITY will usually affect how often you get DEEP TARGET hits. If operating in the "7" or "8" SENSITIVITY range, expect a lot of DEEP TARGET indications. Note: Many times when attempting to retrieve a DEEP TARGET signal, you will find the signal disappears upon disturbing the soil. You might try going into the ALL METALS mode to determine if the target is within range. If you no longer are getting a signal, ignore the target and continue your hunting for more definite hits.

1¢-$1: Many items besides coins fall under these categories. For instance, copper, brass and oxidized metals such as cans.

SENSITIVITY

The SENSITIVITY dial is located at the top left of the LCD panel. The SENSITIVITY can be adjusted by the minus (-) and plus (+) touchpads located on the faceplate. You may adjust SENSITIVITY in either DISC TARGET or ALL METAL SMART TRAC modes. In DISC TARGET mode, the SENSITIVITY indicator will remain pointed to the selected setting after adjustment. In ALL METAL SMART TRAC mode, the SENSITIVITY adjustment moves the Audio Threshold level and will always reset to number "5".

DISC TARGET Mode: If you're encountering a lot of false signals in the DISC TARGET mode, lower the SENSITIVITY.

DEPTH INDICATION

The DEPTH indication dial is located at the top right of the LCD panel. Each number represents inches (2-10 inches). The DEPTH arrow will lock on and emit simultaneously with the Target Identification. Usually when the depth hits 10 inches, the TARGET Identification will emit an arrow under DEEP TARGET. Accuracy of target identification diminishes as depth increases.

Depth indication is accurate for coin-sized objects only.

BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR

Located on the bottom left of the LCD panel. Each letter represents battery strength as follows:

G = Good

F = Fair

L = Low

R = Replace

For optimal performance, it is recommended to change your batteries if they're registering "L" (Low) on the indicator.

GROUND MONITOR

The GROUND MONITOR lets you know if the Time Ranger is correctly balanced to the actual ground mineral conditions when operating in the ALL METAL SMART TRAC mode. The GROUND MONITOR arrow will momentarily move to the right whenever targets are detected. Anytime the arrow moves from the center "0" position, either left or right, and does not return to "0" after 15 to 20 seconds, push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad to update the Ground Balance. Be certain that you are not over a target whenever making this adjustment. When the GROUND MONITOR arrow goes positive, to the right, the speaker (or headphone) will alert you with an increased and continual sound. When the arrow goes negative, to the left, and reads 2 or more, the red light on the Sentron Antenna will come on.

Normal fluctuations in ground conditions will cause the monitor arrow to sometimes move slightly right or left with no effect on operation. The SMART TRAC feature will automatically adjust for these minor variances, usually within 5-10 seconds. Any time you are not sure of the ground adjustments, push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad for an instant update.

BLANKER

Located at the bottom right of the LCD panel, the BLANKER allows the elimination of most surface targets while concentrating on deeper targets. The numbers indicate inches:

2 = 2 inches

0 = Off

4 = 4 inches

Always Remember: The BLANKER is intended to ELIMINATE all targets within 2 to 4 inches of the surface.

To use the BLANKER it is required to be operating in the DISC TARGET mode or one of the PRESET levels. To operate the BLANKER at a 2-inch level, push the BLANKER touchpad once; to operate at a 4-inch level, push the BLANKER touchpad twice. To turn the BLANKER off, push the BLANKER touchpad until the arrow dial is on "0".

TARGET INFO

The TARGET INFO readout is located above the center of the LCD panel. General operation indications include:

SNIFF: To let you know if you have your SNIFF mode of operation on or off.

Ar: When first turning the unit on--let's you know that the unit is testing the air and that you should be holding the coil about waist-high.

dI: Stands for "Discrimination"--let's you know that the unit is ready to be adjusted for programmed target discrimination--

NUMBERS: Indicate air and ground measurements and target value range (for more detailed target identification)

Ir 1: Stands for "Iron Level One"--Small iron objects.

Ir 2: Stands for "Iron Level Two"--Small to Medium iron objects.

Ir 3: Stands for "Iron Level Three"--Medium to Large iron objects.

Ir 4: Stands for "Iron Level Four"--Large iron objects.

(NOTE: As each level of Iron is discriminated, from Ir 1 to Ir 4, the preceding Iron Levels can no longer be detected; for instance, you cannot discriminate "Iron Level Two" while still detecting "Iron Level One".)

Fo: Stands for foil.

BASIC OPERATION

Hold the detector with the searchcoil about waist-high in the air and turn it on by pushing the POWER ON/OFF touchpad. Whenever turning the unit on, always hold the searchcoil about waist high in the air so that the SMART TRAC can properly an air reference to ground conditions. The detector sounds three beeps, LCD indications momentarily appear with an "Ar" under "TARGET" indicating that the unit is now measuring the air. In just a few seconds, the air ("Ar") reference will be established.

As soon as a blinking arrow appears under "IRON/FOIL", and the display reads "Ir", lower the searchcoil to the ground and choose SMART TRAC ALL METALS mode or DISC TARGET mode of operation.

DISC TARGET MODE

If you have chosen to operate in the DISC TARGET mode, the blinking arrow under "IRON/FOIL" indicates that the unit is now prepared for programming. The SENSITIVITY level will be at "5" to start. Do not make any adjustment to SENSITIVITY at this time. After going through the procedures listed below, then adjust SENSITIVITY to the highest setting possible without interference or erratic operation. In the DISC TARGET mode, the SENSITIVITY indicator will point to the SENSITIVITY level selected. (In the ALL METAL SMART TRAC mode, SENSITIVITY will always read "5" This is explained further on). You may choose a PRESET mode or program your own combination of targets for ACCEPT or REJECT.

To accept all targets, including all levels of iron, merely push the DISC/TARGET touchpad one time. The blinking arrow will go away and the unit will now detect all metals in the motion mode. To select a PRESET mode, push the PRESET touchpad once for PRESET 1, twice for PRESET 2, and three times for PRESET 3. Push the touchpad again and it will reset to ALL METALS with no rejects. To leave the PRESET mode at any time, push the DISC/TARGET touchpad and the blinking arrow will reappear under "IRON/FOIL" and the unit is ready for reprogramming as desired.

To program your own combination of targets, start with the blinking arrow under "IRON/FOIL". IRON/FOIL has 4 levels of iron, from small to large and 1 level of foil. By pushing the ACCEPT or REJECT touchpad from 1 to 4 times, you may select what size iron to accept or cancel. The LCD display will show the level of iron you're accepting or rejecting with "Ir 1", "Ir 2", "Ir 3", or "Ir 4" indications. (NOTE: levels of iron discrimination cannot be tested until programming has been completed)

Iron Level 1, shown as "Ir 1", will reject the smallest of iron objects such as tacks, small screws, small nails and BB-size objects. "Ir 2" will reject items up to about twice the size of "Ir 1". "Ir 3" will reject mid-range size iron objects such as a small pocketknife, yet still detect larger iron objects such as a pistol, cannonball, or strongbox. At the "Ir 4", all iron is now rejected. If any level of iron is rejected, the remaining higher level of iron will be detected, but at a somewhat reduced depth. (NOTE: As each level of Iron is discriminated, from Ir 1 to Ir 4, the preceding Iron Levels can no longer be detected; for instance, you cannot discriminate "Iron Level Two" while still detecting "Iron Level One".)

FOIL: After the 4 Levels of Iron are programmed as desired, you can now program foil. When foil is ready for programming, the LCD Display will read "Fo". Push the Touchpad at this time to selectively accept or reject foil. If any levels of iron or foil have been rejected the "R" will appear under IRON/FOIL to indicate that rejection. Accepted items of this category will be detectable (after programming is complete) and the display arrow will appear during detection.

After you've programmed IRON/FOIL, the arrow will then move over and be blinking under "5¢". Normally, you will want to accept the "5¢" target since many gold items fall under this category. Upon pushing the ACCEPT touchpad, the arrow will move over and now be blinking under "PULL TAB" (there will be no "R" indication under "5¢"--unless "5¢" was rejected). Continue by pushing the ACCEPT or REJECT touchpad for each target. At any time, to accept the remaining targets, push the DISC TARGET touchpad--you're now in a customized hunting mode.

PRESET has 3 LEVELS of TARGET REJECT: To operate in one of the automatic PRESET modes, follow the same procedure for turning the unit on with searchcoil waist-high. When the arrow is blinking under "IRON/FOIL", push PRESET. An "R" will now appear under "IRON/FOIL" (This is PRESET 1 and all levels of iron and foil are now discriminated). Push again for PRESET 2 and an additional "R" will appear under "Pull Tab". Push the PRESET touchpad a third time for PRESET 3 and an "R" will now appear under "Z-1¢/S-CAP" all items with an "R" are now discriminated out.

SMART TRAC ALL METAL MODE

You may switch to the ALL METAL mode when operating in the DISC TARGET mode simply by pushing the SMART TRAC touchpad while the searchcoil is on the ground. If you want to operate in the ALL METAL mode directly after turning the unit on, all that is required is to follow the normal turn on procedures. Turn unit on while holding the searchcoil about waist-high. "Ar" will appear, followed by the blinking arrow under "IRON/FOIL". As soon as the blinking arrow appears under "IRON/FOIL", lower the searchcoil to the ground and then push the SMART TRAC touchpad. The letters "gb" (Ground Balance) will appear momentarily, followed by "rY" (Ready).

Try moving the searchcoil to another spot if "rY" does not appear in 10 seconds. An "rY" under "TARGET" on the LCD panel indicates that the unit has measured the ground and is ready for operation in the SMART TRAC ALL METAL mode.

Try moving the searchcoil to another spot if "rY" does not appear in 10 seconds. An "rY" under "TARGET" on the LCD panel indicates that the unit has measured the ground and is ready for operation in the SMART TRAC ALL METAL mode.

SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT for ALL METAL SMART TRAC:

For maximum sensitivity, in the ALL METAL SMART TRAC mode of operation only, the SENSITIVITY indicator will always point to "5" and you should hear a slight "threshold" hum from the speaker (or headphones). If you do not hear the slight threshold hum, the SENSITIVITY is low. Correct this by pushing the SENSITIVITY "HIGH" (+) touchpad one or more times until you barely hear the threshold sound. If the threshold sound is louder than the slight hum, push the SENSITIVITY "LOW" (-) touchpad until the correct threshold level is achieved. Whenever the threshold level is adjusted, by pushing the SENSITIVITY LOW (-) or HIGH (+), THE SENSITIVITY indicator will momentarily move one number down for LOW (-) or one number up for HIGH (+). After the adjustment is registered the indicator will return and remain at number "5".

Now you should be able to sweep the coil and notice metals are being detected when the volume increases. If the unit is not reacting properly, try pushing the SMART TRAC touchpad a couple of times or check that the batteries are connected and make sure they are not low. Note: Once you've adjusted for ground conditions, the settings will not change until the unit is turned off--going back and forth from DISC TARGET will not change your settings or ground conditions adjustment in the ALL METALS mode.

If the actual ground conditions change, that is, if you move from low mineralized ground to highly mineralized ground (or vice versa), without having turned the unit off, the automatic feature of the SMART TRAC will adjust for the difference. There will be a momentary change in threshold hum while the SMART TRAC is adjusting. It is important to not make SENSITIVITY adjustments at this time. SENSITIVITY adjustments should only be made when the GROUND MONITOR is reading "0". Merely wait a few seconds and the threshold hum will return to normal. If after about 10 seconds the threshold hum does not return to normal, then push the SMART TRAC touchpad for an instant Ground Balance update. If the threshold hum does not return to normal after pushing the SMART TRAC touchpad, and the GROUND MONITOR is reading "0", it is then possible that a SENSITIVITY adjustment is necessary.

When searching in the ALL METAL SMART TRAC mode, it is important that you allow the detector's SMART TRAC system to properly balance the unit for mineralization. Do not start sweeping the coil until the LCD emits the "rY" signal. The following tips may assist you when operating in the ALL METALS mode.

1. As stated above, begin with the searchcoil about waist-high in the air when turning the Time Ranger on. You'll notice the "Ar" indication on the LCD as soon as you turn the unit on. "Ar" stands for air and lets you know that it is in the process of measuring the air. This allows the SMART TRAC system to measure the air before the coil is lowered to the ground. As soon as the blinking arrow comes up under "IRON/FOIL" a "dI" appears where the "Ar" was. This lets you know that the unit is now ready for Mode Selection.

2. Lower the searchcoil to the ground and push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad. "Gb" will now appear on the display, then change rapidly to reference numbers. Wait until the number values change into an "rY" indication. This lets you know that the ground measurements were taken and the unit is now ready to be operated in the ALL METALS mode.

3. If you're getting a constant signal, try moving the searchcoil to a different area and again push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad in case metal is setting the unit off. If not, try decreasing the SENSITIVITY by pushing the minus (-) touchpad until you've achieved the desired level.

NOTE: always be careful that there is no metal on top of or under the ground where you will be ground balancing, otherwise you will not be able to determine if the tone being emitted is caused by mineralization or metal. If you think you might be over metal, move to another spot and follow the procedure outlined again. Observe your GROUND MONITOR carefully when moving the searchcoil to a new position.

4. If the detector has too much hum, push the minus (-) touchpad under SENSITIVITY. You'll notice that the "SENSITIVITY" dial arrow on the LCD display will jump to the "4" indication momentarily and bounce back to the center "5" indication. The unit is now less sensitive and will remain at this setting until it's turned off or readjusted.

SNIFF MODE

A unique feature that can be applied in two ways:

1. As a way to quickly adjust your detector to reject only a specified item within the Target ID range.

2. As a way to quickly adjust your detector to accept only a specified item within the Target ID range.

When encountering one type of trash item repeatedly in a particular area, you can "SNIFF" it for reject while still detecting all other metals.

To operate your Time Ranger while utilizing the SNIFF feature, the unit must be in the DISC TARGET mode. Simply push the SNIFF touchpad and make sure the "SNIFF" indication appears on the screen under the "TARGET INFO" section. Then "show" a target to the searchcoil by sweeping it about 4" away.

The screen will now display a target number for the sniffed item. Push ACCEPT to now accept only that item or push REJECT to reject only that item.

Any time the SNIFF touchpad is pressed, previous programming is cleared and the unit is ready for a new SNIFF setting. To leave the SNIFF mode, press the touchpad for the new mode that you want to use.

The LCD display will indicate the target number for the sniffed target. Because target numbers will sometimes vary slightly from sweep to sweep, targets will respond within a "WINDOW" of 15 numbers up or down from the indicated number.

When the Time Ranger is in the DISC TARGET, SNIFF or PRESET modes, its 3-Tone Audio Target Identification (ATI) system automatically classifies metal objects into three tone categories, to make it easier to identify the type of target being detected.

These three different tones distinguish between categories of detected items: a low tone for iron, foil, small gold and nickels; a medium tone for most old and new pull-tabs and some gold; and a high tone for copper, silver, and brass.

IRON, STEEL & FOIL: In the DISC TARGET mode, most iron, steel and foil objects will emit a low tone. On occasion, if the iron is highly oxidized, a high tone may be emitted. For instance, some rusted bottle caps will emit a high tone and indicate on the LCD display in the SILVER range. In the DISC TARGET mode, iron objects can be selectively accepted or rejected on 4 levels denoted by size.

GOLD & NICKEL: All 5¢ nickels and many gold items will emit a low tone. Larger gold items, depending upon purity, might emit a medium tone. The LCD will still read under the gold spectrum unless the item range has been rejected.

OLD & NEW PULL-TABS: These will usually emit a medium tone or no tone at all if in the DISC TARGET or PRESET modes. If a pull-tab is broken in half, the "Beaver Tail" part will emit a low tone. There are also pull-tabs that are bent and folded or highly oxidized that may emit a low tone.

COPPER, SILVER & BRASS: These metals usually will all emit a high tone in the DISC TARGET or PRESET modes.

Note: When operating in the ALL METALS mode, Three-Tone Audio Target Identification shuts down and only one continuous medium tone is emitted for all targets.

TESTING YOUR DETECTOR

1. While testing the unit for its capability to pick up coins and other objects, always test away from other metals--a good start is outside on the ground. You cannot test a unit indoors on the floor, because there is usually metal in the floor that may conflict with the detector's signal or even mask the signal completely.

2. If you're not picking up coins or metal, even though your coil is close to the objects to be detected, there is a chance that you are not maneuvering the coil properly. Do not move the coil too quickly and try not to sweep the coil less than an inch away from the object.

3. In the DISC TARGET or PRESET modes, movement is required before the unit will recognize a target. If you're air testing, you need to point the coil to the ceiling and make sure there is no metal near the coil whatsoever (see illustration). The object you're testing with needs to be swung in a side to side motion before the detector will be able to recognize it. In the ALL METALS mode motion is not required to detect a target.

4. Not all gold rings will give you a low tone. Some gold rings fall in the pull-tab range and may emit a medium tone similar to the pull-tab. Some pull-tabs, especially if they are broken in half, will give you a low tone similar to most gold rings and nickels.

5. Zinc pennies will emit a medium tone instead of a high tone as do copper pennies, quarters, and dimes.

6. Do not swing the coil, or the test object, too quickly or it may give you a false signal. When repetitively passing the coil over the object, allow a few seconds to pass to give the detector a chance to recover from its last reading.

For proper air testing, place detector on table, rotate coil towards the ceiling as illustrated above. After properly rotating the coil, remove any watches and rings from your hands, and make sure no metal in the table is in close proximity to the coil. Test the detector by sweeping a metal object across the coil. If the object is not ID'ing properly, try waving the object closer to the coil while making sure the surface of the object is not on edge--for instance, a coin's surface is more accurately detected than its edge.

IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES

Accurate pinpointing takes practice and is best accomplished by "X-ing" the suspected target area.

1. Once a buried target is indicated by a good tone response continue sweeping the searchcoil over the target in a narrowing side-to-side pattern.

2. Take visual note of the place on the ground where the "beep" happens as the searchcoil is slowly moved side-to-side.

3. Stop the searchcoil directly over this spot on the ground.

4. Now move the searchcoil straight forward and straight back towards you a couple of times.

5. Again make visual note of the spot on the ground at which the "beep" occurs.

6. If needed "X" the target at different angles to "zero in" on the exact spot on the ground at which the "beep" happens.

COIL MOVEMENT

When swinging the coil, be careful to keep it level with the ground about one to two inches from the surface. Never swing the coil as if it was a pendulum.

After selecting your choice of mode for operation, swing the searchcoil gently side-to-side, slightly overlapping each sweep as you move forward. Make sure you keep your searchcoil approximately 1" above ground as you search. Raising it in the sweep or at the ends of your sweep will cause false readings. Move slowly, hurrying will only cause you to miss targets.

Most good objects will respond with a good repeatable signal. If a signal does not repeat after swinging the coil directly over the suspected target a few times, it is more than likely trash metal. False signals can be caused by trashy ground, electrical interference, or by large irregular trash objects. These signals are easily recognized by their often broken or non-repeatable nature.

The Time Ranger is a very sensitive and deep-seeking detector. It will loudly respond to many targets that other detectors would only emit a weak signal for. Because of this, trash-induced signals and other sources of interference may emit signals that seem confusing. The main key to handling these types of false signaling is to dig only those targets that emit a strong repeatable signal. As you sweep the searchcoil back and forth over the ground, learn to recognize the difference between the signals that occur at random and signals that are stable and repeatable.

When searching very trashy ground, it is best to scan small areas with slow, short overlapping sweeps. To prevent erratic signals and difficult pinpointing in trashy areas, try operating at a lower sensitivity.

COINSHOOTING

This is probably the most popular application for metal detectors. Coinshooting opportunities abound. Even your own yard may have some interesting old coins. Most coinshooters are striving to at the very least find silver coins (pre-1965). Clad coins (current circulation) can be good practice to retrieve and test your detector on its abilities to properly identify targets. Coins can be retrieved just about anywhere. Parks, baseball fields, yards, dirt parking lots and swimming areas are only a few of the many possibilities.

To set up your Time Ranger for coinshooting, there are a few choices to make prior adjustments. Depending on what type of area you're hunting in and the level of trash to deal with, will usually determine the setup mode of operation. For instance, if an area is heavily trash-ladened, try using the third level of PRESET. After turning the unit on, with the searchcoil about waist-high, wait for the blinking arrow under "IRON/FOIL" to appear. Now lower the coil to the ground and push the PRESET touchpad three times. Three "R" indications should fall under "IRON/FOIL", "PULL TAB" and "Z-1¢/S-CAP".

The unit will now respond to all coins and other possible trash metal that fall under the coin indications. Some gold rings will not be detected in this mode of operation. A percentage of pull-tabs will still be detected especially pull-tabs that are broken in half in the shape of a "beaver tail".

Note: As you're sweeping your coil, you will get many types of signals and indications in a trashy area. Attempt to dig only signals that are repeatable and lock onto the target ID. Depending on what level of SENSITIVITY you've selected, "DEEP TARGET" indications may be numerous. Only attempt to dig a "DEEP TARGET" indication if it's repeatable. And even then, the signal may disappear upon digging it. This can be caused by many factors. One being that the item was highly oxidized and is likely trash metal once the detector was in range of it. If you're having trouble pinpointing your target, see the chapter titled: "In The Field Techniques".

You may also narrow your discrimination further if you find that you're detecting many "5¢" indications that turn out to be pull-tabs or foil. This can especially occur in heavily trashed areas. Some pull-tabs and many "beaver tails" (pull-tabs broken in half) have the same detection properties of nickels.

To narrow your discrimination to strictly silver and copper coins (and other metals including trash that may fall under the "SILVER RANGE" indication), either push the DISC TARGET touchpad from the PRESET mode you were operating in or, if just turning the unit on, hold the searchcoil waist-high and wait for the blinking arrow under "IRON/FOIL". Push the REJECT touchpad four times until "Ir 4" comes up in the center of the LCD display under "TARGET".

Now push the ACCEPT touchpad; the blinking arrow will now fall under "5¢". From here, push the REJECT touchpad until the "R" indications fall under "5¢", "PULL TAB" and "Z-1¢/S-CAP". When the blinking arrow reaches "1¢/10¢" push the DISC TARGET touchpad. You are now in a mode of operation that eliminates most trash metal along with nickels.

Note: This mode of operation will also eliminate gold items.

Once you've gained a little practice, you may want to fine tune your Time Ranger to not eliminate zinc pennies or 5¢ . Indian Head pennies may identify as zinc pennies and gold coins may identify as 5¢.

RELIC HUNTING

What is a relic? Something that has survived the passage of time is a limited definition. A relic can be anything of historical value especially reflecting another age. Relics are time capsules of history since every relic has a story to tell. Relics have historical value that cannot be put into monetary terms. Certainly, there are instances where collectors have paid substantially for a relic. Usually relics have much more value to the local museum where the community's history is held in reverence. Where are relics found? The best place to start is researching in your local library. Look up the old newspapers and find out more about your community's history. Discover what historical events may have taken place in your locality. Where the historical landmarks are hidden from present-day progress. Try to pinpoint these locations on a map. Many times there are new buildings and pavement over where the historical event took place or where once stood the historical landmark. Hopefully, you will find an empty lot or a farmer's field where once a historical landmark was located. Remember, have respect for private property and gain permission from the owner of the land before detecting.

When relic hunting, you'll want to detect iron along with precious metals. To do this, you may either hunt in the ALL METAL mode or in the DISC mode. Both modes have advantages and disadvantages.

ALL METAL: After first turning the unit on with the searchcoil held up about waist-high, you will see an arrow blinking under IRON/FOIL. To go into the ALL METAL mode, lower the searchcoil to the ground, then push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad. Allow the SMART TRAC to measure the ground conditions by waiting for the "rY" indication under "TARGET". You may or may not hear a slight threshold hum; adjust the hum by pushing the minus (-) or plus (+) under SENSITIVITY if the unit seems to be too quiet or too loud after 10-20 seconds. If the searchcoil is held still a while longer on the ground, the threshold hum may start to come on.

This procedure allows the unit to measure the air against the ground so that it may properly balance itself for the ground conditions you're preparing to hunt in. The unit will then respond to all types of metal without any discrimination. No movement is required to detect a target. The level of sensitivity may also be adjusted by using the LOW and HIGH touchpads under SENSITIVITY. The detector will not require motion to detect a target in this mode.

JEWELRY HUNTING

There are two critical factors to consider when jewelry hunting:

1. Where Are You Hunting?

2. Is Your Detector Set Up to Detect All Gold Items?

When targeting jewelry items, consider where these items are commonly lost. There are many possibilities including: Playing fields where a variety of sports take place, beach areas, playgrounds, and sandboxes.

The main objective when adjusting your Time Ranger for jewelry hunting is to ensure that very few gold items are escaping detection. Fortunately, most small gold items fall under the "5¢" indication.

If you want to bypass most of your trash items while detecting most gold items along with silver items, try starting out in the third level of PRESET.

If you don't mind digging a lot of trash and want to guarantee that no gold items are escaping detection, start in the DISC TARGET mode accepting all 4 levels of iron. Small gold rings may fall in the "IRON/FOIL" range. (NOTE: levels of iron discrimination cannot be tested until programming has been completed.)

Be aware that you will now be digging all trash items along with any precious metals encountered. If you're hunting in a heavily trashed area, it's recommended to operate in one of the PRESET modes. You may also want to customize your selection of targets depending on what type of trash items abound in the area you're hunting.

For instance, if you're encountering a lot of pull-tabs but very little iron, try eliminating pull-tabs only. To do this, turn the unit on while holding the searchcoil waist-level. After the blinking arrow comes on under "IRON/FOIL", lower the searchcoil to the ground. Push the plus (+) above ACCEPT until the arrow is blinking under "PULL TAB". Now push the minus (-) above REJECT and an "R" will now display under "PULL TAB". Push the DISC TARGET touchpad to lock in your programmed selection. Your detector will now pick up all items except those falling under the "PULL TAB" category.

Note: Some pull-tabs may still be detected, although most will be discriminated with this setting.

GOLD PROSPECTING

Metal detectors have been instrumental in creating another gold rush in the last two decades. Older gold mines that have long closed down have reopened using metal detectors as the main tool for gold retrieval.

Today, metal detectors are used in every aspect of gold prospecting. From searching out the motherlode to finding "placer" deposits, metal detectors have been found to be indispensable.

Gold prospecting poses totally different challenges than coinshooting or jewelry hunting. Utilizing a metal detector to retrieve gold is still a relatively new artform.

Your Time Ranger can be a useful tool in your gold prospecting pursuits but is not the perfect tool. There are many problems you'll encounter when attempting to detect for gold nuggets. Black sand (highly mineralized soil with iron content) may set your detector off; where gold is found, usually black sand abounds.

The Time Ranger is always measuring for ground conditions through its SMART TRAC system. In the process of adjusting itself for highly mineralized areas, some depth or sensitivity to small objects is momentarily lost.

When using your Time Ranger for gold prospecting, you will want to operate the unit in the ALL METALS mode. This will ensure detection of smaller items such as gold nuggets. Gold flakes will usually not be detected unless they're highly concentrated. Start by turning the unit on with the searchcoil held up at about waist-level. When the blinking arrow comes on under "IRON/FOIL", lower the searchcoil and press the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad. As the unit measures the ground, you will see the "Gb" indication first. Eventually, the "rY" will light up under "TARGET" on the LCD.

At this point, try sweeping the coil listening carefully for volume fluctuations. When precious metal is detected, a continuous louder tone will be emitted as long as the searchcoil is over the target. Try moving the coil on the outside of these signals to determine the size of the object and its exact location. Highly mineralized soil (black sand) may cause your Time Ranger to give you some false readings.

CACHE HUNTING

A cache (rhymes with "stash") is anything of value that may be hidden or buried to prevent theft. Many people of bygone days would hide their life savings near their homestead because of the insecurity of banking. Caches can also consist of pillaged treasure or lost treasure. To approach cache hunting properly requires intensive research along with careful deduction. Because caches are usually found deep, you should be operating your Time Ranger in the ALL METALS mode. Because no motion required to detect a target, this mode will also assist you in determining the size of the object and lend itself to easier pinpointing. The frustrating side is that hunting in the ALL METALS mode will require digging many trash items; although, it's worth the effort if there's strong evidence that the particular cache you're hunting for exists. Surface trash metal will have to be cleared to allow the Time Ranger to detect deeper targets without interference.

To adjust your Time Ranger for cache hunting, start by turning the unit on with the searchcoil about waist-high. When the blinking arrow comes on under "IRON/FOIL", lower the searchcoil to the ground and push the ALL METAL SMART TRAC touchpad and wait for the "rY" indication under "TARGET" to light up. You may adjust the SENSITIVITY either to eliminate or to restore a slight threshold hum. Observe your GROUND MONITOR on the LCD panel to determine where the SMART TRAC is in regards to measuring the ground conditions. If in the minus area, it is balancing for negative ground conditions; if in the positive area, it is balancing for positive ground conditions or detecting a metal object.

The searchcoil can now be swept slowly for cache hunting. Any increase in volume should be paid particular attention to. This usually indicates that metal is being detected. If the unit continuously outputs a loud signal, there may be too much trash metal to operate at its ground balance peak. Try pushing the minus (-) touchpad under SENSITIVITY to detune the unit so that smaller metal can be distinguished.

If this doesn't work, attempt to find another area with less metal in close proximity to assure that the unit is ground balancing properly.

TROUBLESHOOTING

The following troubleshooting steps may assist you in case you're having problems with your Time Ranger.

YOUR DETECTOR IS EMITTING FALSE SIGNALS WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FIELD.

Your SENSITIVITY may be set too high. Try cutting back the SENSITIVITY slightly until the false signaling disappears. Remember, to swing your coil slowly. Some false signals will occur on highly rusted metals, but if the signal does not repeat over the same area while passing the coil over it, then the target is usually not worthwhile.

YOUR LCD READOUT IS NOT LOCKING IN OR ID'ING WHILE PASSING OVER A TARGET & THERE IS MORE THAN ONE TONE BEING EMITTED BY THE DETECTOR OVER THE SAME TARGET.

This will usually occur when there is more than one object over the area you're sweeping. If it is an odd piece of metal that the detector cannot recognize, the LCD Display will also not lock in. Sometimes, oxidation can also make the LCD Display ID arrows and tones jump around. This may also occur if the SENSITIVITY is set too high.

YOUR DETECTOR IS NOT STABLE AND HAS A PULSING, DISTORTED TONE INSTEAD OF A CLEAR TONE.

This can occur if you're operating very near another detector or near power lines that can interfere with the frequency that the detector operates on.

YOUR DETECTOR IS EMITTING A CONSTANT LOUD TONE OR CONSTANT REPEATING TONES

This usually occurs when the batteries are low. Try replacing your batteries with two new alkalines to determine if this is the cause. There are instances that can cause lock-up or malfunctions of the detector system. This can occur at any time during operation. The detector can be "cleared" by simply turning it off and starting over.

CARE AND FEEDING

Your Time Ranger Metal Detector is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your metal detector so you can enjoy it for years.

Handle the metal detector gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit boards and cases and can cause the metal detector to work improperly.

Use and store the metal detector only in normal temperature environments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices and distort or melt plastic parts.

Wipe the metal detector with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to clean the metal detector.

The coil is waterproof and may be submerged in either fresh or saltwater. Be careful to prevent water from entering the chassis. After using the coil in saltwater, rinse it with fresh water to prevent corrosion of the metal parts.

Modifying or tampering with the detector's internal components can cause a malfunction and will invalidate your detector's warranty.

TREASURE HUNTER'S CODE OF ETHICS:

1. Respect the rights and property of others.

2. Observe all laws, whether national, state or local.

3. Never destroy historical or archaeological treasures.

4. Leave the land & vegetation as it was. Fill in the holes.

5. All treasure hunters may be judged by the example you set. Always

obtain permission before searching any site. Be extremely careful with

your probing, picking up and discarding of trash,

and ALWAYS COVER YOUR HOLES!

This product is warranted to the original retail consumer for 5 years from date of retail purchase against defects in material and workmanship.

WHAT IS COVERED. Replacement parts and labor. Shipping charges to consumer for repaired product. WHAT IS NOT COVERED. Shipping charges to BOUNTY HUNTER CORPORATION of defective product. Damages caused by abuse, neglect or failure to perform normal maintenance...see owner's manual. Any other expenses. CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

HOW TO OBTAIN WARRANTY PERFORMANCE. Attach to product your name, address, phone number, problem description and proof of date purchased (sales receipt). Pack in original carton or other suitable padded carton and return to BOUNTY HUNTER CORPORATION, shipping charges PREPAID.

IMPLIED WARRANTIES...ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OR MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED TO A DURATION OF FIVE YEARS FROM DATE OF RETAIL PURCHASE, SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

To the extent any provision of this warranty is prohibited by federal, state, or municipal law which cannot be pre-empted, it shall not be applicable. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

Copyright ©MCMXCVII by First Texas Manufacturing Co.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or parts thereof, in any form, except for

the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Published by First Texas Manufacturing Co.

Bounty Hunter® and Tracker® are registered trademarks of First Texas Manufacturing Co

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